The present invention relates to the use of C-reactive protein, its mutants, metabolites and polypeptides and related compounds thereof for the treatment of various disease states and conditions associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including lupus of the skin (discoid), systemic lupus of the joints, lungs and kidneys, hematological conditions including hemolytic anemia and low lymphocyte counts, lymphadenopathy and CNS effects including memory loss, seizures and psychosis, among numerous others as otherwise disclosed herein, hi another aspect of the invention, the reduction in the likelihood that a patient who is at risk for an outbreak of a disease state or condition with systemic lupus erythematosus will have an outbreak is an additional aspect of the present invention.